Theology 8: Aunt Marge’s Recipe

Aunt Marge’s Secret Recipe

Mark 13:31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Your Aunt Marge makes a delicious blueberry crumble pie. Your mouth waters at the thought of eating it. You’ve asked for the recipe, but she keeps it secret and safe.   

Unfortunately, Aunt Marge disappeared while skydiving over the Himalayas. She has yet to be found. While you mourn for her loss, a smaller part of you also mourns for the loss of that blueberry pie. Was there anyone she shared it with? You investigate. As it turns out, she shared it with FIVE of her neighbors! Could you replicate that recipe if you had five copies? I think so. What if you found five more neighbors? And five more still?

The text of the New Testament is a modern-day miracle. Researchers have found over 5,000 manuscript copies of the New Testament.  Of those 5,000 copies, can you guess how many variations or differences there are? Practically, almost none. Less than 1% of those differences change the meaning of words. 0% change any doctrine or teaching.  I challenge you to look into this and come talk to me about it. It’s a modern-day miracle. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

What does this Word of God tell us, preserved over 2000 years? This word is written that you may believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God, and have life in his name.